LIVERPOOL forward Sadio Mane has Andy Robertson to thank for leaving Porto with the match ball.

Mane ran riot against the Portuguese giants, netting a hat-trick in Liverpool’s 5-0 win at the Estadio do Dragao in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

The Reds forward was entitled to claim the match ball after the final whistle but a cheeky ball boy attempted to make off with the memento.

However, observant team-mate Robertson spotted what was happening and wrestled it back off the youngster.

The Liverpool left-back said: “I had to go running after the ball boy for his ball at the end – he was nearly upset!

“Luckily, I managed to get it. They were three class finishes from him.

“Mo [Salah] and Bobby [Firmino] have stolen the headlines in the last couple of weeks. But Sadio is on my side [of the pitch] and he is a workhouse, he works so hard. He took the limelight and got his three goals.”